Jerebko began last season as a starter and never griped when Ben Wallace, and later Jason Maxiell, stepped into the starting power forward role. Jerebko continued to play hard and was praised for energizing the second unit.

Today, that backup job belongs to Charlie Villanueva. In the last 24 games, Jerebko has appeared once, for six garbage minutes.

"Of course, I'm disappointed," Jerebko said. "But all I can do is keep working hard and that's what I'm doing. I feel good about what I'm doing.

"I just go into the gym every day and do the same things I always do. Just trying to get better. Do what I can control."